Heavy metals on the Kola Peninsula: aerosol size distribution

The size distribution of aerosols containing metal was investigated in the Monchegorsk region. It was found that lead and arsenic occur predominantly in fine particles (<1 μm) and that copper and nickel occur both in fine (< 1 μm) and coarse particles. The mean ratios of total mass (all size ranges) Cu/Pb and Cu/As in the air were found to be 10 and 16, respectively. Comparing these ratios with the snowpack data of Jaffe et al. (1994) in the Monchegorsk region, we find an enhancement of Cu in the snowpack, relative to Pb and As. This is consistent with our observed size distributions and indicates that the Monchegorsk Pb and As emissions are transported longer distances than Cu and Ni prior to removal. Results show the importance of considering the size distribution of metal emissions in chemical transport and/or factor analysis type models.